Chapter 16 Spilled Blood
Spilled Blood
Five years ago
Ibit the skin around my thumb as I kept watch, my eyes darting back and forth to make sure no one was coming down the hallway.
A loud bump from the closet behind me caused me to hiss and wince, and I cleared my throat, lightly pounding on my chest to cover up the muffled sounds.
Not that anyone would hear them over the music and loud conversations from the ballroom, but I couldn’t take that chance.
“Keep it down,” I said through the corner of my mouth, straightening my vest and bow tie.
The door finally whipped open, and Nellie strode through in a cloud of heavy perfume, and this time I coughed for real. “Sweet Hecara, Nell, is all that necessary?”
She kicked back her foot, securing the back strap of her shoe around her heel before sighing. “Yes, Sage, this is supposed to enhance your omega scent. I want the Premier to be able to notice me from across the room.”
“He’d probably notice you from across the city-state,” I grumbled, closing the door. “You know I’m really putting my neck out for you with this, right?”
Nellie patted me on the cheek and gave me an air kiss. “I know, trust me. And once I get the Premier’s attention and become his new girlfriend, I will be more than happy to share the rewards I’m gonna reap the fuck out of. Fine dining, designer goods, front row seats to all the best shows…”
She sighed happily, flipping her wavy blonde hair over her shoulder. It was said the Premier had a type, and Nellie fit it perfectly, with her dark skin, petite frame, and pouty smile.
Well, she was probably most alphas’ types, honestly, especially here in Noctis. Image was everything, and a gorgeous omega like Nellie never had any shortage of men trying to get her attention. Whenever the two of us went out, I might as well have been invisible.
It should have made her hard to be around, but Nellie was also an amazingly good friend—when she wasn’t asking for the kind of favors that could make me lose my lucrative catering job—and I could never bring myself to hate her.
She made sure to let all of her potential suitors know that the moment they disrespected me, they were out.
“And you’ll be right there with me,” she said with a wink.
Nellie had never set her sights as high as the Premier, though, and to be honest, the idea of being their third wheel was far from appealing, no matter what the perks might be.
He was gorgeous himself, but there was something about him that kind of gave me the creeps, too. Like everything was a facade and the real, darker him was just waiting for the right trigger to be released.
That could have simply been a vampire thing, though.
After pushing her boobs up a little more to peek through her skintight strapless mini dress, she gave me a twirl. “Wish me luck!”
I raised my eyebrows, throwing a half-hearted salute. “Break a fin.”
She giggled and then strutted down the hall towards the ballroom, where the Premier was hosting a fundraiser for animal shelters… or was it blood banks?
Eh, whatever. I got paid and tipped all the same.
It was his office’s first time renting the venue where I worked as a caterer, and when I had mentioned it offhandedly to Nellie a week ago, she’d immediately begged me to help her get in.
Apparently, he had just broken up with his flavor of the month, and the blonde omegas of Noctis were lining up to fill the vacant spot.
These kinds of events were typically very exclusive, so getting her an actual invitation was impossible. But I was able to sneak her in wearing one of my spare uniforms, which she ditched immediately for something a little sexier to then blend in with the crowd.
“Sage, there you are!”
I jumped a little, my face paling as I turned around to find my manager, Jakob, looking rightfully annoyed with a tray full of blood flutes. “All hands on deck, here! They’re about to do a toast and we need to get these out ASAP!”
“Sorry, yes, I’ll take care of it!”
He harumphed and then headed back towards the kitchen, while I put on a neutral face and went into the fray.
It was your typical black-tie soiree for the upper echelon of Noctis, and I smiled politely as I held out the tray with perfect poise and balance, making sure not to interrupt any of their “very important” conversations, like increasing blood tithes, tightening restrictions on non-citizens, and which guest was dressed the worst.
That last one I actually liked overhearing. But it was never who I thought it would be, confirming that my sense of fashion was way different from the rich vampires I was serving.
The first two, however, were especially annoying as a non-cit living in the city. I was exempt from paying the blood tax due to my health, thankfully, but I hated seeing my friends look so tired after they made one of their semi-annual visits to city hall.
The classism was worth it for now, though.
Noctis was a means to an end, an end that was thankfully coming soon.
I’d moved here seven years ago to attend Umbris University, and was finally graduating in few months with a double-major in business and computer science, adding in magical chemistry as a minor.
It was my goal to start my own company after graduating.
Cindralis, my home, was small and struggling.
The older witches who ran the place refused to adapt to new technology and changing times, driving younger witches out in search of greener pastures.
But as a non-citizen in the neighboring city-states, there was often too much bureaucratic red tape to allow you to open your own business.
Freelance work was a real opportunity for talented witches who just needed a little help connecting with potential clients, and my app, Kaldrin, was going to be the place where that happened.
The last blood flute was snatched without a word of thanks, and I gave what was sure to be an ignored bow before slinking away. I’d barely made it halfway back through the room when Jakob showed up with another full tray. “Here, the Premier and council still need their drinks.”
“The Premier?” I squeaked. Nellie may have been more than willing to saddle up next to Victor Corvane, the ruler of Noctis and most powerful vampire in Lundaria, but I certainly wasn’t.
I had actually been trying to avoid looking in his direction all evening, which was actually pretty easy.
He didn’t walk around and mingle like everyone else; he sat like a king on a throne and let everyone come to him.
But whatever gravity drew people into his orbit had the opposite effect on me.
Nellie often joked that I was the most defective omega in existence, since most of our designation loved and sought out the attention of strong alphas. But me? I usually turned tail and ran in the other direction.
I ran my hand absentmindedly on my chest, right over my scar.
I was defective in a lot of ways.
Jakob huffed as he practically shoved the tray at me. “Hurry up, it’s almost time!”
With a deep breath, I nodded resolutely, taking the last of the drinks and turning around to head towards the Premier’s table.
I looked around for Nellie, surprised when I didn’t find her already sitting on his lap. She wasn’t even in his vicinity.
Where did she go? Did someone realize she wasn’t on the list and escort her out? Oh Hecara, if security found out I’d been the one to sneak her in, I’d be out of a job. I couldn’t afford to lose this one—the hours were flexible, the tips were usually generous, and I got so much free food.
Vampires didn’t eat a lot.
My mind snowballed with worst-case scenarios. First, I’d be fired. Then I’d lose my apartment, then I’d get kicked out of school, and then…
“Sage!”
Nellie came up behind me. “Are you giving that to the Premier? Let me do it.”
I froze, not wanting to appear as though I were arguing with a guest. Especially with the Premier’s table in view.
I kept a smile plastered on my face while I spoke from the corner of my mouth. “Nellie, I can’t have you serving anybody if you’re not wearing a uniform.”
“Come on,” she whined, starting to tug on the tray. “It’ll be fine! I need to get closer, but his guards won’t let me through and he hasn’t looked up to see me yet, no matter how many times I walk by!”
I finally let my eyes land on him.
Premier Victor Corvane.
My heart felt like it was cartwheeling in my chest. Vampires were unnaturally beautiful most of the time anyway, but looking at Victor was like looking at the sun, ironically enough.
Even seated, you could tell he was tall, his designer tuxedo accentuating his well-built frame.
His skin was pale, and his wine-red hair fell in shining waves to his shoulders.
Crimson eyes slowly turned towards us, focusing on Nellie as she kept trying to grab the tray from me.
Now my heart beat faster, noticing the subtle way his nostrils flared as he caught her scent. “Okay,” I whispered, still trying to keep my expression pleasant and neutral. “You’ve got his attention; now let me do my job.”
I needed to do this myself, even though the last thing I wanted to do was get any closer to him. The man radiated power, and every cell in my body was warning me that I needed to put more distance between us.
Nellie grunted, pulling a little harder. “Sage, just let—”
She tugged too hard that time, and the tray flew from my hands. Blood splattered all over me and a few of the guests, the glass flutes shattering loudly on the parquet floors.
The whole room stopped talking, as though someone had magically sucked all the noise out, aside from the rattling of the tray as it finally settled.
The Premier stood slowly, his face contorted in fury, his eyes now focused on me.
Oh Hecara, I was more than fired.
I was dead.
I couldn’t move from the Premier’s gaze, as if his power had locked me in place. He said something to one of his guards, who nodded and backed up, making room for him to get up and move around the table.